Bath Phil & Leia Zhu

“Leia Zhu plays with poise and musical intelligence beyond her years” The Guardian

Conflict and resolution have played out throughout the centuries influencing composers to produce some of their greatest and influential pieces. Written in 1806, during the uncertainty of the Napoleonic era, Beethoven wrote his masterpiece, the Violin Concerto. This mammoth work takes the listener on a journey through war and struggle to finally an outpouring of joyous thanks. Joining Bath Philharmonia for this epic journey is 16-year-old British violinist Leia Zhu. Lauded for her musical maturity, expressive interpretations and impressive technical ability, Leia is recognised as a star of the future.

Grażyna Bacewicz’s Divertimento for Strings, written in Poland during the Cold War looks at the wreckage of war in her own country in a sarcastic and sardonic manner, whilst Philip Herbert’s moving Elegy reflects on the very modern tragedy of the murder of Stephen Lawrence. In comparison, Prokofiev wrote the Classical Symphony as an escape from the Russian Revolution and the Great War, producing one the happiest pieces ever written for orchestra.

The performance of Grażyna Bacewicz’s Divertimento for Strings is made possible with funding from the ABO Trust’s Sirens programme, a ten-year initiative to support the performance and promotion of music by historical women composers.

Programme:

Philip Herbert, Elegy: In Memoriam – Stephen Lawrence

Grażyna Bacewicz, Divertimento for Strings

Sergei Prokofiev, Classical Symphony

INTERVAL

Ludwig van Beethoven, Violin Concerto